Clip structure



April 21, 1942. W, E', Schl/wm4 v2,230,304

CLIP STRUCTURE Filed May 3,y 1941 Trax-7 al"l l PVA/.rse E. SCHAU'EBQ.

. a Patented pr. 21, 1942 Illinois My invention; relates to, clip structure adapted for general usebuthdesigned particularlyifor use `on the microphonecasing of` electricalhearing aid outts. .These microphone casings usually contain thermionic lamps, condensers, coils,` and i other elements cooperable to amplify the sound received bythe microphone for conduction to the ear piece. `The microphone casings are usually I 2,280,304.` `CLIPSs'rmiocrumi `Walter E. Schauer, Forest Park, `.1"11., assignor to Otarion, Inc.,."Chicago, Ill., a corporation of made as light as possible and .of a shape so that v they may conveniently be carried in ;a..pocket.`

. thereon to various desired positions depending i.

upon the position'in which the casing is to be supported. o i

Another object is to provide an attaching means for the clip in theform of socket structure on the casingand a head or plug elementen the clip so thatithls head or plug may be inserted into the socket against spring resistance and thenlocked by springpressure .to hold the clip i.

in its various positions of adjustment.

The variousfeatures of my invention are `incorporatedin, the accompanying drawing, ,in which drawingi. i i

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a microphone casing towhich my invention is applied;

Figui-e2 is a side view of the casing showing a clip in, place thereon;

`Figure 3 is an enlarged front View `of the `socket structure;`

button I3 at one side of the casing being shiftable for cooperation of means for controlling the sound volume delivered to the ear piece. On the front` side of the body is a grill I4 for the VPrfrrzii f' ,oifiircls a Application Mays, 194i, serial No; `391,759 'lemma (crei- 3) entrance of sound waves to ception by the ear piece.` t i i The 'body and cover parts oi the casing 4are preferably of some suitable plastic material; and embeddedfin the body near one end thereof is the socketfst'ructure S for reception of a clip C. The socket lstructure comprises ari" annular walllhaving in its outer'portion a cross wall I6 integral therewith through which wall extends a polygonal f passageway I'I, the passageway shown being square. Extending from the outer side of the wall II are arcuate tongues I8 which project i'ntoi the molded material of the cover to 'securely anchor the socketelement `in place with its outer end flush with the outer sidesof the casing. .'The wall IB is undercut at points 1midway between the corners of the passageway I1 to form rectangular recesses I9, these recesses outlining the corners of a square of the vsize of the opening I'Ifbut theirecesses being displaced 45 from the corresponding. corners of `.the .passageway I'I. .i j

At its inner end thewall I5 is recessed `to provide the annular shoulder 2D, a closure disk 2I being `inserted inl therecess 'and `against the `shoulderso asto close all passageway through the socket structure between the interior of the casing and the exterior thereof.

The clip C shown appliedto the casing on Fig. 2 comprises a cylindrical stud 22 terminating in a'square head2 23 which is substantially vof the size of the socket structure passageway `II so as to pass therethrough.. ,This stud `fulcrums the clip lever 24.` which, as shown; is of.. U-shape cross-section :and has ears 25 extending therefrom forreceiving a fulcrurn pin 26. extending .through the outer end of the stud 22. UAn S-shapedspring 21 has in 'its outer and intermediate `portions a and `b` respectively,` the registering openings 28` and 29 for receiving the stud 22 between its head 23 and the fulcrum ears 25 on the clip lever, While the outer end c of the spring extends across the rounded outer end oi the stud and against the inside of the outer end of the clip lever. When the clip is to be applied to the casing, the head 23 of the clip stud is inserted through the passageway II of the socket structure, the end a of the spring thenV engaging against the outer side of the casing. Pressure is now exerted against the stud until its head `reaches the space below the Wall IB and then `the clip is rotated 45 to bring the corners of the stud head into register with the undercut recesses I 9, and then when pressure on the clip isv released, the spring will shift the be amplied for rel stud outwardly with the corners of its head in the recesses I9, the clip being then locked against rotational movement from its set position. The outer end c of the spring pressing against the clip lever will hold the clamping end 30 of the lever against the casing. If it is desired to attach the casing to some part of the clothing, as for example the outer wall of a pocket, the clip can be opened by pressure against the outer end thereof for reception of the pocket material between the casing and the clamping end 30 of the clip. With the socket structure shown, the clip may be set into service position to project its clamping end downwardly, or upwardly, or to the left or right relative to the casing. It is evident that if the socket structure passageway and the clip stud head were of other polygonal shape such as hexagonal or octagonal, the corresponding number of service positions for the clip would be provided.

Different types of clips or fasteners may be used but all embodying the head on the stud for cooperation with the socket structure on the device to be supported. On Fig. 7 a pin type of clip is shown. The clip comprises the bar 3| from which extends the stud 32 with the head 33 for insertion into the socket structure. A pin 34 may be rigidly secured to one end of the bar or, as shown at 35, may be hinged to one end of the bar and suitable safety catch means 36 provided for the pin end at the other end of the bar. The bar 3| is preferably of springy metal and normally bent as shown so that when the clip is pushed with its head into the socket structure S, the ends of the bar will engage against the face of the casing to be supported and the bar will be flexed and its spring reaction will then hold the clip in place after turning thereof to a desired set position.

I thus provide simple and eilicient means for detachably applying a clip structure to a device to be supported and for setting the clip structure in any desired position. I do not however desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement and operation shown and described as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim as follows:

1. A supporting clip structure for the microphone casing of a hearing aid outt, comprising an equilateral passageway through a wail of said casing, a ,clip element comprising a clip bar and a supporting stud therefor terminating in an equilateral head of substantially the same size as said passageway whereby when said head is inserted through said passageway and then turned a distance its points will lproject behind said wall beyond said passageway sides, said wall having recesses in its rear side intermediate the corners of said passageway for receiving the corners of said head after turning thereof, and spring means on said clip engageable between the clip bar and said casing wall for holding the corners of said head in said recesses to thereby positively lock said clip element against turning from its adjusted position.

2. A clip structure for an object to be supported comprising a passageway through the wall of the object, and a clip element comprising a supporting stud terminating at its inner end in a head insertable through said object passageway and having parts adapted after insertion thereof through said passageway for projecting behind the passageway surrounding walls to function as detents, a clip lever fulcrumed on the outer end of said stud, an S-shaped spring having passageways through its irmer and intermediate portions receiving said stud between its head and the fulcrum connection of said lever with said stud and having its outer end projecting across the outer end of said stud and against the inner side of the outer end of said lever, said spring after insertion of said head through said passageway and turning thereof exerting outward pressure to hold said head in detent engagement with the back of said wall to thereby hold the clip element in adjusted position and the outer end of said spring then functioning to swing said lever for clamping engagement against a support inserted between the object and the lever end. l

3. A clip comprising a stud, a clip lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the outer end of said stud, a head on the inner end of said stud adapted for interlocking engagement with a socket structure on an object to be secured for holding said lever in desired position relative to the object, and a spring on said clip functioning to maintain said interlock and also functioning to yieldably urge said lever against a support between the object and the lever for securing the object to the support.

4. A supporting clip structure for the microphone casing of a hearing aid outt, comprising a square passageway through a wall of said casing, a clip element comprising a clip bar and a supporting stud therefor terminating in a square head of substantially the same size as said passageway whereby when said head is inserted through said passageway and then turned a distance its points will project behind said wall beyond said passageway sides, said wall having recesses in its rear side intermediate the corners of said passageway for receiving the corners of said head after turning thereof, and spring means between said clip and casing wall for holding the corners of said head in said recesses whereby said clip will be positively locked in any one of four positions against turning.

WALTER E. SCHAUER. 

